Metz, Collart, Servais, Boch and Pescatore, to name a few, are family names that even today set the standard for Luxembourg. In the nineteenth century, the influence of these families on politics, economy and culture of Luxembourg was indisputable.

Composed of four parts, the exhibition "BESSER FAMILLEN" is traversed as follows:

The foundations and principles of education for children called "BESSER FAMILLEN" are traced in the EDUCATION AND TRAINING part through the families Vannerus, Richard and Roebé. They are also mentioned is schools and universities particularly frequented by girls and boys of the Luxembourg bourgeoisie.

Were all marriages arranged? Were they allowed to marry for love? Using marriage contracts, statistics and also personal documents (letters, diaries and photographs), the WEDDING part supports these issues.

The POLITICS AND ECONOMICS part analyses the recruitment procedures of the governing forces and strategies of control over the economy. It notes in particular alliances between the Metz, Tesch, Boch, Dutreux, Pescatore, Godchaux, Turk and Wurth families, alliances characterised by the spirit of entrepreneurship in the nineteenth century.

The lifestyle of Luxembourg families is then explored in the section dedicated to LIFESTYLE. Income, the number of staff employed at home, different forms of dwelling are reviewed. Leisure and social events are explored through the examples of travel, hunting and also artistic activities (reading, writing and music) or philanthropists (patronage).

Through all these documents and photographs from largely the National Archives and the National Literature Centre, and also with explanatory signs, paintings and objects, the exhibition "BESSER FAMILLEN" shows vividly at which point the elite formation is inseparable from the vision and way of life of these families that have so marked the history of Luxembourg.

Produced by Josiane Weber (CNL) in collaboration with Beryl Koltz (for ANLux), this exhibition is based on the book "Familien der Oberschicht in Luxemburg (1850-1900) und Elitenbildung Lebenswelten" (Luxembourg: Binsfeld Publishing, 2013) of Josiane Weber.

The exhibition "BESSER FAMILLEN" is available in French and German at the National Archives at the Plateau du Saint-Esprit in Luxembourg city from 26 June to 31 October 2015.